Android Auto now works in standalone mode

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Wade

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#205476 15-Nov-2016 09:08

I note Android Auto updated last night and can now be used as a standalone app on the phone

I tried it this morning on way to work and have to say it is very simple but effective, the app opens once connected to chosen bluetooth device and will holds screen on (can be configured not to)

Its pretty much a near perfect and cost effective solution for cars provided you can plumb the audio through your stereo somehow

I'm using a Logitech [+]Drive windscreen mount, Kinivo BTC450 BT adaptor and the integration is near factory like, cost of around $100 + phone is a lot more palatable then cost and impossibility of swapping out headunit for an Android Auto device and best of all will always be up to date/futureproof

tripp

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#1671112 15-Nov-2016 09:16

Yes I have been using it a couple of weeks, it's bloody great :)

In settings you can make it auto start by selecting a Bluetooth device when it connects to it :)
I did have an issue with a random address that kept popping up but removing the address from my maps history fixed the issue

hairy1

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#1671163 15-Nov-2016 09:55

I have started using it too. All good. Would love to use Waze instead of Maps. Apparently this is coming....

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

Stu

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#1671173 15-Nov-2016 10:05

Have been using Car Home Ultra for many years, but will have a look at Android Auto.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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frankv

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#1671443 15-Nov-2016 16:07

I'm struggling to see why I'd want it. I use Automate to detect my car's BT adapter, and automatically play music from my phone to the car. It also auto-starts Speed of Sound, so the volume increases with speed. If I want to, I can get it to automatically start Waze or any other car navigation thing.

I like and know Android, so don't need another layer. Or I can use my watch to skip tracks or whatever. Why would I want some other UI?

freitasm

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#1671493 15-Nov-2016 17:01

But does Automate read your SMS?

Linuxluver

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#1671494 15-Nov-2016 17:11

If I connect my Android phone to the Bose sound system in my Nissan LEAF via Bluetooth, it automatically fires up Google Play and starts playing my most recent playlist.

I was amazed....

That's sort of Android Auto... :-)

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frankv

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#1671517 15-Nov-2016 18:40

freitasm:

But does Automate read your SMS?

I saw a user-written script to do that.

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lNomNoml

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#1671531 15-Nov-2016 19:14

I couldn't get Google Now, that "Ok Google" thing to work while it was open which is what I need to voice command make calls and texts ect on my nexus 6P on 7.0

afe66

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#1671771 16-Nov-2016 09:49

My HTC m7 comes with car app which has large icons, reads out sms (and takes verbal instructions/dictation).

A.

bradstewart

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#1671892 16-Nov-2016 11:59

frankv:

I'm struggling to see why I'd want it. I use Automate to detect my car's BT adapter, and automatically play music from my phone to the car. It also auto-starts Speed of Sound, so the volume increases with speed. If I want to, I can get it to automatically start Waze or any other car navigation thing.

I like and know Android, so don't need another layer. Or I can use my watch to skip tracks or whatever. Why would I want some other UI?

I was using Automate but it had a lot of drawbacks. The map view was pretty awful and the UI was not the best for navigating while driving.

I replaced it with Android Auto last week, it's just an all round improvement, voice commands actually work and the UI is much nicer. It also does a better job of reading and replying to SMS than anything else I've played with.

sonyxperiageek

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#1673183 17-Nov-2016 21:41

Does anybody else find it to have extra large buttons like on my Sony Xperia X?

Sony

Wade

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#1673496 18-Nov-2016 11:29

I think it would be good if you could scale the display as it is probably very effective on a 4" display but on 5.5" display a scaled down UI would mean less scrolling

Voice commands work well, selecting music requires a bit of creativity as you need playlists or a great memory to remember artist/track/album names but i suspect I will become far more reliant on voice control vs working through menus

I have used a bunch of driving skins over the time and most look stale and overly complicated by today's expectations, AA has a very clean and simple UI. It should only get better with time and hopefully always be up to date and in line with current google offerings/new features/app integration etc

lchiu7

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#1674226 19-Nov-2016 16:21

I had been using Car Home Ultra for a while and then tried Android Auto. It's pretty nice but I do miss the speed and direction display that Car Home provides (then again the speedometer shows that).

I haven't tried its reading SMS feature yet or voice control but that might tip it in its favour over Car Home Ultra.

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Stu

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#1674250 19-Nov-2016 17:31

Tried it, hate it. Sticking with Car Home Ultra. I'm not worried about the SMS reading feature as any SMS (except from premium numbers) gets an auto response that I'm driving and will respond when I reach my destination. If it's urgent, they can phone me.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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